Political accusations and rebuttals began as soon as the capital city of Delhi was covered in a layer of haze.
Delhi's pollution level has been consistent with the 'severe' category for the past few days.
On November 14, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed 400, making it the nation's worst air quality, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Three crore or so people are compelled to breathe in toxic air.
Because of the circumstances, Graded Response Action-3 has been put into place to reduce air pollution. This is carried out when a city's AQI surpasses 400.
For the residents of the capital, this has become into an annual wintertime occurrence for which they have no remedy.
The Air Quality Life Index indicates that pollution is reducing Delhi residents' lifespans by ten years, but no administration is willing to accept responsibility for this.
The issue at hand is who is to blame for Delhi's air pollution. What actions are the governments taking? And will there be any help for Delhi's citizens in the near future?
The Central Government, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are all pointing the finger at one another for the pollution.
The Air Quality Life Index indicates that pollution is reducing Delhi residents' lifespans by ten years, but no administration is willing to accept responsibility for this.
The issue at hand is who is to blame for Delhi's air pollution. What actions are the governments taking? And will there be any help for Delhi's citizens in the near future?
The Central Government, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are all pointing the finger at one another for the pollution.
Pic Courtesy: https://www.aqi.in/dashboard/india/delhi (18.11.24)
Gopal Rai, the environment minister for Delhi, claims that neither the federal government nor the governments of the BJP-ruled states that border Delhi are taking any action to address the pollution.
He claims that Delhi's pollution is caused by more than just its citizens. Delhi is experiencing pollution from all directions.We are requesting collaboration from the BJP governments, as this is the only way to lower pollution levels.
According to Gopal Rai, the Central Government doesn't care about pollution because it is preoccupied with the elections.
The Central Government, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are all pointing the finger at one another for the pollution.
Gopal Rai, the environment minister for Delhi, claims that neither the federal government nor the governments of the BJP-ruled states that border Delhi are taking any action to address the pollution. He claims that Delhi's pollution is caused by more than just its citizens. Delhi is experiencing pollution from all directions.We are requesting collaboration from the BJP governments, as this is the only way to lower pollution levels.
According to Gopal Rai, the central government doesn't care about pollution because they are preoccupied with elections.
At the same time, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva blames Delhi's pollution on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
He claims that Delhi's pollution is caused by more than just its citizens. Delhi is experiencing pollution from all directions.We are requesting collaboration from the BJP governments, as this is the only way to lower pollution levels.
According to Gopal Rai, the Central Government doesn't care about pollution because it is preoccupied with the elections.
The Central Government, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are all pointing the finger at one another for the pollution.
Gopal Rai, the environment minister for Delhi, claims that neither the federal government nor the governments of the BJP-ruled states that border Delhi are taking any action to address the pollution. He claims that Delhi's pollution is caused by more than just its citizens. Delhi is experiencing pollution from all directions.We are requesting collaboration from the BJP governments, as this is the only way to lower pollution levels.
According to Gopal Rai, the central government doesn't care about pollution because they are preoccupied with elections.
At the same time, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva blames Delhi's pollution on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Everyone is complaining about pollution in Punjab, according to Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Who is to blame for the pollution in Delhi?
Meteorologists claim that snowfall in the mountains and a drop in wind speed are also to blame for Delhi's AQI surpassing 400, which leaves small particles of pollution in the atmosphere and causes a coating of smog to appear to onlookers.
For the previous few years, farmers' burning of stubble is mostly blamed for Delhi's abrupt spike in pollution between the weeks of October and November.
How much of this is true, is the question.
With the exception of July, no month in 2023 saw Delhi's AQI go below 100, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
The ministry claims that Delhi's AQI has been above 150 for nine months of the year and will begin to surpass 200 by October.
However, after harvesting paddy, farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn stubble. Only a few weeks around October and November do these situations come to light.
This makes it very evident that farmers alone cannot be held accountable for Delhi's rising pollution levels.
However, after harvesting paddy, farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn stubble. Only a few weeks around October and November do these situations come to light.
This makes it very evident that farmers alone cannot be held accountable for Delhi's rising pollution levels.
According to Greenpeace India's deputy program director, Avinash Chanchal, stubble burning contributes very little to pollution in the city. According to an IIT Delhi assessment, thermal power plants are the main source of pollution in Delhi, he says. Vehicles come in second.
According to various reports, the percentage of vehicles varies between 16 and 55 percent. Following this, a significant portion of pollution comes from industry and building.
Chanchal claims that all of these factors combined are making Delhi more polluted, and this problem is not limited to a single month or two. This process is ongoing. Therefore, blaming farmers for pollution and implementing emergency measures in the capital won't resolve the issue.
Gopal Rai makes the same statement.During a press conference, he presents the Center for Science and Environment's (CSE) findings, saying, "CSE has analyzed the data between October 12 and November 13."
This indicates that local sources account for 30.34 percent of Delhi's current pollution levels. The areas next to Delhi make up 34.9 percent of the total, while the areas next to the National Capital Region make up 27.97 percent.
In support of Punjab, he claims that "cases of stubble burning have reduced by about 80 per cent since our government came to power."
According to the Central Government's data, there were more than 45000 occurrences of stubble burning in Punjab between October 14 and November 13 of 2022, whereas this year there are below 7500 cases.
In what ways will pollution be lowered?
The environmental website Sustainable Mobility claims that the AQI level in Beijing, China, exceeded 100 a decade ago.The website claims that China implemented a significant air pollution control plan in 2013 and that Beijing's AQI dropped to 30 by 2022.
Avinash Chanchal, a climate specialist, argues that because China has already improved the air quality in its capital, why can't India do the same?
"Governments have political boundaries, but air pollution transcends these boundaries," he argues. Governments will need to come up with a coherent plan and cease pointing fingers at one another.
According to Chanchal, "Our governments must work on managing air sheds outside of their respective state borders." There is a particular region where air travels in this notion. The distance may reach 200–300 kilometers. A solution can only be discovered if all of the local governments work together to combat air pollution.
Governments will need to address all of the factors contributing to air pollution at the same time, he argues. It will not function if only one thing is given attention.
Schools up to class V have been forced to close by the Delhi government due to rising air pollution.
Experts on climate change also question Delhi's infrastructure. They contend that Delhi has seen extensive expansion over the past three decades, with little regard for public transportation.
"The Delhi Transport System is in extremely poor condition," adds Avinash Chanchal. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled that Delhi need roughly 10,000 buses, but today they have 7,600.
"The Delhi Transport System is in extremely poor condition," adds Avinash Chanchal. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled that Delhi need roughly 10,000 buses, but today they have 7,600.
"A population of one hundred thousand should have 60 buses, based on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' benchmark," he argues. That indicates that Delhi need roughly 15,000 buses. The people will only be allowed to use public transportation in place of private vehicles once the government has strengthened it.
Delhi is scheduled to hold assembly elections in 2025. The most important question in this scenario is whether rising pollution would affect the elections.
According to renowned TV journalist Krishna Mohan Sharma, who has covered Delhi politics for 20 years, citizens are unable to exert pressure on leaders in this manner because there is a lack of political will to reduce air pollution.
He claims that millions of people live below the poverty level in a city like Delhi. Air pollution is neglected in such a scenario as voters' concerns are dominated by numerous other issues.
"Despite this, air pollution can be a big issue for the middle class and lower middle class in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections," says Krishna Mohan.
We are discussing the nation's capital here," he continues. Because politics are involved, the federal government can enforce stringent rules and compel the Kejriwal administration to abide by them, but it is not doing so. He wishes to uncover these problems and demonstrate to the populace that the government they chose is not turning Delhi into a paradise.
Since they are the ones most impacted by air pollution, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with lung conditions demand relief from the accusations and denials surrounding it. When we will experience relief from this is uncertain.
Story: Staff BlazeB
Pic Courtesy: pexels.com, pixabay.com
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